We wanted to try out some more third-class after a favorable experience on Longs during the summer. The Sawtooth Ridge is a great introduction to alpine scrambling. The exposure is considerable in places, especially to the uninitiated, but we were already getting comfortable with exposure to some extent. Once across the ridge, we thought we were home free, but Evans' west ridge goes on interminably. We encountered flurries on Evans' summit before we started heading back to Guanella. We used the gully that descends west from the saddle between Spalding and Evans (I've seen this gully given a name before, but I can't recall it right now) to reach the Scott Gomer Creek headwaters. We had a miserable time in the willows (no boardwalks here!), but we made it back to the car without incident.

Mt. Evans is not a place for solitude due to the road up to the top, and the presence of all the car tourists is certainly a different experience then other 14ers. That said, I had a fun day starting out from Echo Lake and following the Chicago Lakes route to Summit Lake, then taking the Northeast face to the top. On the way down to the parking lot on top I passed a car tourist in shorts jogging brisky up the trail. I turned around a few seconds later and he was doubled over and dry heaving. After a few heaves he got his composure back and began to walk gingerly towards the summit. Never a dull moment on Mt. Evans...

OK, so we got picked up in a car at the top of Mount Evans by a friend so we didn't get to descend, but summitting Bierstadt and then traversing the Sawtooth was still a pretty good challenge. Summitpost is right on about the route looking harder than it is. There were a couple challenging points just before you cross over to the other side of the ridge - but even these can be avoided if you don't mind downclimbing a bit more (you just have to make up that elevation in a trough-like couloir just before the rolling traverse to the other side). The ledges did get a little thin (2 feet in places) but I never felt uncomfortable or in any real danger. The hike to Evans from here was uneventful, but did offer some cool views of the Sawtooth from the 'other side'. Then a cloud descended upon us and robbed us of our summit view on Evans. Oh well, at least we made it! Fun trip, I'd highly recommend it for those looking for a nice taste of Class 3.

My friend Super Kent and I drove to the summit parking lot. There was an electrical storm nearby. A ranger advised us to stay in our truck. But we scrambled the fifty feet or so to the true summit anyway(It was not mandatory, only advised to stay in vehicle). Once I neared the summit, I touched my hair and heard a "zzzzz" sound! I quickly ducked down lower. I had come too far not to touch the summit rock so I reached up and touched the top of the summit rock, and once again, I felt and heard an minor "zzzzz" sound! My friend and I quickly scrambled back down the slope amidst a couple of lightning flashes in the distance. Even though this summit was a drive-up, it was one of my most dangerous summits because of this experience.

Hiked & scrambled up to Mt. Evans' summit with my dad, from Summit Lake. Missed the start of the trail early on, so we had to improvise, & scrambled up some class 3 ledges before gaining the mellow slope leading to the summit. Along the way a mountain goat posed majestically for us (he was probably just waiting for us to piss to get his salt intake for the day). Also encountered some German engineers testing the then pre-production Audi TT in high altitude conditions, which was sort of cool (one of the few uses of that road). Of course also encountered the expected lazy flat-lander tourists on the summit who'd driven up. Another great day in the Rockies with my Pops.

9.2.'7
Did the Snave route, starting at Echo Lake TH. Left at 7.02, summited at 11.48. While the car crowds at Summit Lake, & of course the summit, were staggering on this pre-Labor Day Sunday, I encountered very few on the way up from Echo Lake, & no-one from Summit Lake until I ran into the summit ridge. Beautiful area- the glacial cirques & nice granite are stunning! Fun route- fun scrambling leading up to the final couloir, & ~50' or so of enjoyable, albeit mungy, 4th.

9.3.'14: from Guanella Pass
Left car ~9.20. Hiked down to Guanella Pass campground (10,800'; turned back from campground sign at 9.53) to get a full 3,000' for day, then hiked up to Evans. Trail avoiding (well, at least parts, if you can keep to it) swamp goes L directly at (before) stream crossing on standard trail to Bierstadt. Summited at 14.07, hung out for a bit, enjoying views. Left summit at 14.35. Felt like dog shit pretty much the whole way down- not enough sleep the night before, blasted from the sun, & not enough hydration during the day. Still nice to be in beautiful surroundings, & on a 14er, no less. Back at truck at 17.41, then off to hang with the Larks (& meet Grace!).

I HATE WILLOWS! I had a bad (translation- educational) experience with the neighborhood willows on a spring/snow climb on Bierstadt 2 years before from the same trailhead. But I must admit I would rather slog through the mud and the marsh than the snow and the postholing anyday. Lest I sound bitter- my thanks to those who built the bridges from the beginning of the trailhead. You were building them on a day when I first attempted an "easy" Bierstadt- only to be blown from my feet several times before I decided to try Bierstadt "another day"

Did Evans on a nice day and decided to bag Spalding also since I was "in the neighborhood." Evans was a fun climb. Had to get the tourists out of the way for the summit photo. Having fun now!

Parked the car on a switchback a few miles from the summit and slogged up the north slopes as an acclimatization hike for Longs. I saw a herd of mountain goats on the way. Choked on fumes as I crossed the parking lot for the last 30' to the summit, but otherwise a beautiful climb.